Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is facing a wave of flight cancellations, with approximately 160 flights being grounded due to extensive traffic restrictions in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit. Scheduled for September 9 and 10 in Delhi, the Summit has prompted significant disruptions in the region.
IGI Airport, managed by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), ranks as the country’s largest airport, accommodating roughly 1,300 flights daily. DIAL announced on August 26 that they had received requests from airlines to cancel 80 departing and an equal number of arriving domestic flights over the three-day period starting September 8.
A DIAL spokesperson assured that the airport is well-prepared to accommodate aircraft during the summit. They stated, “So far, we have received requests for cancellation of approximately 80 departing and 80 arriving domestic flights over 3 days, which is a mere 6 per cent of the normal domestic operations at Delhi Airport.”
The spokesperson emphasized that international flights will remain unaffected. They added, “While we recognize that approximately 80 arrivals and 80 departures may be affected due to these cancellations, we are committed to working closely with airlines to minimize any inconvenience caused to passengers.”
In response to the disruptions, several Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India, have offered passengers a one-time waiver of applicable charges for rescheduling their flight bookings.
IndiGo informed passengers about the cancellations at Delhi Airport, stating, “Due to the G20 Summit 2023 taking place in New Delhi, IndiGo is offering one-time waivers for passengers traveling to and from Delhi between September 8 to 11, 2023.”
Air India also provided information about cancellations and a one-time waiver for passengers who wish to change their travel date or flight. They clarified that only the fare difference for the rescheduled flight, if any, would be applicable.